TOPIC:

Thanks to the Marquis of Tullibardine, the work of the Scottish Horse has been well documented.

The first medal in this thread is QSA (5) CC OFS Tr 01 02 to Lt ECL Innes, 1st Scottish Horse.




Pictures courtesy of BoB.

Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

QSA (0) with clear ghost dates (59 Far: Sjt: R.H.Tellam, Scottish Horse.) Impressed and possibly renamed.

Recorded on nominal roll of Scottish Horse as 58 Farrier Sergeant Richard H. Tellam, served 21 Dec 1900 - 15 Oct 1902; Discharged on Disbandment C.T. (Cape Town).

I am not sure why NN only use the nominal roll. He medal roll entries show entitlement to QSA (5) CC OFS Tr SA01 SA02.

His medal was issued 15 July 1902.

Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (26333 Tpr: H.Grey. Scot: Horse.)

26333 Trooper Harold Grey confirmed on nominal roll for Scottish Horse. Enlisted 08 Jan 1901, and Discharged 15 Mar 1901 at Pietermaritzburg as Insubordinate. Also on medal roll for Bushveldt Carbineers (later Pietersburg Light Horse).

Information from the book titled The Bushveldt Carbineers and the Pietersburg Light Horse by William (Bill) Woolmore, p196, 'Grey Harold, Trooper No.130/544 (BVC/PLH): English. Previous service as No.21 Scout with Driscoll's Scouts from 21 August 1900 to 11 December 1900, and as Trooper No.26333 in the 1st Scottish Horse from 8 January 1901 to 28 February 1901 when he was discharged as 'undesirable'. He had an insubordination problem in the Scottish Horse which explains his short stay in that unit. Enlisted in the BVC at Maitland on 25 March 1901 - age 26, farrier, single, Church of England, height 5'8", 160 lbs, 37" chest, fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, tattoo - crossed flags on right arm. NOK: mother, Mrs M.Grey, 48 Dymham Rd, West Hampstead, London, England. While serving with the BVC in the Spelonken he had participated in the drinking of the detachment's looted rum supply near Dwars River. He then absconded to Pietersburg where Colonel Hall demanded his resignation. Discharged from BVC on 16 October 1901. Re-enlisted in the PLH (Pietersburg Light Horse) at Green Point on 17 February 1902 with number 544. He qualified for the QSA medal with clasps Cape Colony, OFS, Transvaal, SA 1901 & SA 1902. On 28 April 1905 his medal and clasps were sent to his brother E.C.Grey, 32 Dynham Rd, West Hampstead, N.W.'

Author's additional notes indicate that it appears Trooper Grey could not be traced after the war. He also notes that Grey was called as a witness against the BVC Officers Morant and Handcock.

Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (31598 Serjt: T.Farmer. Scottish Horse.)

This unit was raised initially in South Africa from Scotsmen or men of Scottish descent and later extended to men from England and the colonies, with the assistance of the various Caledonian and Highland Societies.

Sergeant Thomas Farmer confirmed on nominal roll of Scottish Horse, served 15Feb-15Sep1901, Discharged on Completion of Service. Vendor noted that this man was a Victorian but this has not been confirmed.

Any interested Forum member
"Southern Cross Scots" by J.E.Price shows "31598 Tpr. T.Farmer" enlisted in 2SH and came from Vermont, Victoria. At enlistment, he was 21 years of age, religion CofE, occupation Grazier and married. He travelled to SA on the Transport "Orient" and earned the clasps C/O/T/01. His conduct was recorded as Exemplary.
Regards
IL.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

Elandskloof, 3 July 1901

On 2 July 1901 Colonel Benson received information at Machadodorp that detachments of the Lydenburg and Middelburg Commandos were in laager on the farm Vlakfontein, some 11km north-west of the town. His column left Machadodorp in the early hours of 3 July, but the track followed turned out to be longer and more difficult than anticipated and he only arrived at about 8:00, too late for a surprise attack. The Boers were seen moving northwards towards Elandskloof and for the next 7 hours pursuit and search operations were carried out. At about 15:00 two detachments of F Squadron, Scottish Horse were sent ahead to search two adjoining valleys. One detachment of 26 men under Major Murray was suddenly attacked by some 60 Boers but held their own for some 45 minutes until relieved by E Squadron, Scottish Horse. In this sharp and very close fight British losses were 3 men killed and 9 wounded. On the Boer side 4 men were definitely killed with another 3 men as possible. Lt English won the Victoria Cross for running between his men’s positions under heavy fire at point blank range, supplying them with more ammunition.

QSA (5) CC, OFS, Tvl, SA01, SA02 (31681 Tpr. J.S. McColl, Scottish Horse)

John Stewart McColl, a Groom from Camperdown-Warracknabeal, Victoria, Australia was severely wounded at Elandskloof. He recovered from the wound, returned home and was discharged at Melbourne on 14 September 1901. However, fighting must have been in his genes, because he re-enlisted in his old unit on 28 October 1901 (new number 33506) and returned to South Africa.

He was finally discharged on 19 May 1902 and stayed on in the Transvaal: his QSA was sent to an address in Troyeville, Johannesburg in September 1909.